Sudanese top general the military leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has said that he would not participate in any government following the transition period, reported Africa News.
The statement comes as anti-coup demonstrations in Khartoum and other cities continue, adding to the country’s ongoing political crisis. The Sudanese military took control of the country’s administration in a coup on October 25 and arrested dozens of officials and politicians.
According to the independent Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, 14 protesters have lost their lives and more than 300 have been injured in the anti-coup protests so far.
The Sudanese military leader said the country’s army is committed to completing the democratic transition, holding elections on time, and not stopping any political activity going on in the country as long as it is peaceful, and in line with the constitution.
“We are committed to handing over power to a civilian government of national competency and we pledge to preserve the transition from any interference that can hinder it,” al-Burhan told Aljazeera.
He said the military forces were not responsible for the deaths of the protesters.
“The Sudanese army does not kill citizens, and there are investigation committees to reveal what happened,” he said.
On Sunday, the Sudanese army fired tear gas at a number of anti-coup rallies, as protesters came together in several cities to observe two days of civil disobedience against the military takeover. Hundreds of teachers rallied against the military coup after the Sudanese military replaced heads of departments at the education ministry.
The call for civil disobedience was made by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), an umbrella of unions that was instrumental in the 2018-19 protests which ousted the longtime president Omar al-Bashir. The group has urged protesters to avoid confrontation with the security forces.
The protesters are demanding a civilian government without any interference from the military.
